William Hale Thompson

"Who ever head of him doing anything? ... I find he is the man who
plays with sailboats." -- Democratic opponent Robert Sweitzer

"The worst you can say of him is that he's stupid. --anon

William Hale Thompson, also known as "Big Bill" Thompson, was
one of Chicago's most interesting and eccentric mayors.
Thompson was born in Boston on May 14, 1867, son of Colonel William
Hale Thompson. His family came to Chicago soon afterwards.

"Big Bill" was a powerful, athletic man, captain of the Chicago
Athletic Club's water polo team and the Chciago Athletic Association
football team. He first entered politics in 1900, becoming the 2nd Ward
alderman as a Republican. He was elected mayor of Chicago in 1915.

"You ladies! You know what goes on. You've been proving
that and doing a fine job of it! I tell you I am going to clean up
Chicago and I mean it! If I am elected mayor, I will protect the fair
womanhood of Chicago!" --Thompson

Chicago in the twenties was ruled by gangsters - first Johnny Torrio,
and then his successor Al Capone. Mayor Thompson was suspected of being
on Torrio and Capone's payroll. During Big Bill's reign as mayor, the
police were ineffective in combatting organized crime. Bribery and
corruption were rampant.

At the onset of World War I, Thompson was staunchly pro-German and
anti-British. For this he was labeled "Kaiser Bill" and worse. He held
public book-burnings to destroy pro-British books taken from the public
schools. In spite of this, he was reelected for a second term in 1919.

Things began to sour for Big Bill in 1923. Judges he backed were not
elected, his "five cent fare" bill was voted down, he lost a libel
suit against the Tribune, and he was investigated for fraud by the
State's Attorney. Upon learning of this investigation, Thompson
withdrew from the mayoral race. Reform Democrat
William Dever was elected mayor.

The former mayor announced that he was leading an expedition to the
South Seas to find tree-climbing fish. "I have strong reason to believe
that there are fish that come out of the water, can live on land, will
jump three feet to catch a grasshopper, and will actually climb trees."
The yacht Big Bill got as far south as New Orleans, but Thompson
had already jumped ship.

Thompson ran for mayor again in 1927. Dever was firmly on the side
of law and order, and was fanatical in his enforcement of Prohibition.
Big Bill promised to re-open taverns that Dever had shut down, and the
thirsty town elected him to a third term as mayor.

As he had before, Thompson allowed the gangsters free rein over the
city. He ignored crime, concentrating instead on his own issues -
including more anti-British saber-rattling, and threats to "punch King
George in the snoot."

In 1931, to enhance his "cowboy" image, Big Bill brought horses into
the City Council chambers. This failed to win him re-election.
Thompson lost to Anton Cermak.

Thompson lost the race for governor in 1936 and a fifth campaign for
mayor in 1939. On March 19, 1944, he died at the Blackstone Hotel at
age 76. At the time of his death, he was worth $2.1 million. His
obelisk is the tallest monument at Oak Woods.